Dakar Biennale 2024: A Historic Integration of Artisans and Contemporary Art

In November 2024, the 15th edition of the Dakar Biennale of Contemporary African Art, known as Dak'Art, marked a significant milestone by featuring local artisans from Dakar's Soumbedioune crafts market for the first time. This inclusion bridged traditional craftsmanship with contemporary art, highlighting the evolving landscape of African artistic expression.

Curators Kemi Bassène and Khadim Ndiaye spearheaded this initiative, selecting five artisans—a sculptor, a painter, a jeweler, a leatherworker, and an upholsterer—to create works centered on the hippopotamus, an animal symbolically significant across Africa. The resulting exhibition, held in Soumbedioune's central square, showcased diverse creations such as hippo-shaped jewelry, a large wooden sculpture of a sleeping hippo, and a hippo-shaped bag.

The Dakar Biennale, established in 1989 by the Senegalese government, has evolved into a prominent platform for contemporary African art. The 2024 edition, themed "The Wake," explored the enduring legacy of slavery and its impact on contemporary society. This theme delved into concepts of exhumation, mourning, and uprooting, aiming to connect the past and future with equal significance.

Artistic director Salimata Diop emphasized the importance of this theme, stating that it was inspired by Christina Sharpe's work, "In the Wake: On Blackness and Black Being," which examines Black identity and the effects of colonialism. The biennale featured 58 artists from 33 countries, including seven African American artists from the United States, offering diverse perspectives on the historical and ongoing effects of slavery.

The inclusion of Soumbedioune artisans in the biennale was a deliberate effort to decolonize the art scene by integrating traditional crafts into contemporary platforms. Curator Kemi Bassène, who grew up in the Medina neighborhood adjacent to Soumbedioune and is now based in Paris, emphasized the significance of this integration. He stated, "This is the first time in history that artisans, especially those who are custodians of traditional craftsmanship, are invited to the Biennale."

Sculptor Papise Kanté, a 45-year-old artisan who created two wooden hippo statues for the exhibition, expressed that the event allowed him to tap into a more creative part of his work, moving beyond producing objects solely for sale. He stated, "I have been sculpting since I was a young child. Every artist wants to get better." Kanté also noted that participation in the biennale brought recognition to his work, saying, "It's because of the Biennale that people are talking about my work. If you participate in the Biennale, you are proud."

The 2024 biennale occurred amidst significant political changes in Senegal. In October 2024, the governing party, PASTEF, won the presidential election, granting President Bassirou Diomaye Faye the mandate to implement ambitious reforms aimed at improving living conditions for ordinary Senegalese. These reforms focus on economic self-reliance and maximizing the use of natural resources. The biennale's theme, "The Wake," symbolized Africa's journey towards independence from colonial influences.

Following their participation in the biennale, the artisans of Soumbedioune have ambitious plans. Community leader Ndiouga Dia mentioned plans to collaborate with a local school to manufacture backpacks, aiming to reduce reliance on imported products. He expressed a desire to expand production nationwide, stating, "We have all the know-how. We can produce more."

The integration of Soumbedioune artisans into the Dakar Biennale signifies a merging of traditional and modern artistic expressions, reflecting Senegal's broader efforts towards cultural and economic self-reliance. This collaboration not only provided the artisans with broader recognition but also highlighted the evolving landscape of African art, emphasizing the importance of preserving and promoting traditional crafts within contemporary platforms.